Gravity causing mirror effects

In summary, black holes have the ability to bend light at all angles, including 180 degrees, which could potentially allow for the light emitted from our system to be bent back to us. However, due to the extreme distortion, it would be difficult to extract a clear image. While there could be less severe gravitational lenses that could gradually send an image back to Earth, the math shows that this scenario is highly unrealistic.
  • #1
Slait
14
0
So gravity bends space, and black holes bend space in a loop. Is it possible for there to be a gravitational field somewhere in space, just strong enough, that it bends the light emitted by our system back to us so we could see ourselves?
 
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  • #2
Slait said:
So gravity bends space, and black holes bend space in a loop. Is it possible for there to be a gravitational field somewhere in space, just strong enough, that it bends the light emitted by our system back to us so we could see ourselves?

A black hole bends light at all angles including 180 degrees, so yes it will send a bit of your light back to you. Said light would be so munged up it would be difficult to extract an image from it though.

There could be a series of less severe gravitational lenses that gradually send an image back to Earth. You might even be able to rig it so that the distortion wasn't extreme.
 
  • #3
If you do the math, you will see that bending light in this fashion is highly unrealistic.
 
  • #4
Chronos said:
If you do the math, you will see that bending light in this fashion is highly unrealistic.

What would the math be?
 
  • #5
Very few photons would be bent precisely 180 degrees in passing a black hole, as noted by ImaLooser. The resulting image would be incredibly faint.
 

What is "gravity causing mirror effects"?

"Gravity causing mirror effects" is a phenomenon that occurs when an object with a high gravitational pull, such as a black hole or a massive planet, bends light around it. This can create distortions in the images of objects behind the high-gravity object, making them appear stretched or warped.

How does gravity cause mirror effects?

Gravity causes mirror effects by bending the path of light as it travels through space. This is known as gravitational lensing. The more massive an object is, the stronger its gravitational pull, and the greater the bending of light will be. As the light bends around the high-gravity object, it can create mirror-like distortions in the images of objects behind it.

What objects can cause gravity mirror effects?

Any object with a high gravitational pull can cause mirror effects, but the most common ones are massive celestial objects such as black holes, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies. However, even smaller objects like planets and stars can also create gravitational lensing and cause mirror effects.

Can we observe gravity mirror effects on Earth?

Yes, we can observe gravity mirror effects on Earth, but they are not as noticeable as those in space. The curvature of space-time by Earth's gravity is not strong enough to cause significant distortions in light. However, scientists have observed small gravitational lensing effects, such as the bending of starlight near the sun during a solar eclipse.

Why is studying gravity mirror effects important?

Studying gravity mirror effects helps us understand the fundamental principles of gravity and the structure of the universe. It also allows us to observe and study distant objects that would otherwise be impossible to see with traditional telescopes. Additionally, studying these effects can help us test and refine Einstein's theory of general relativity.

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